BLOG 1 – 2014-10-18
The few weeks before departure the surrealistic part kicks in. You can’t believe that you, a few friends and acquaintances will be in a strange place for six months. It`s especially hard to think that you will have to do laundry, cook and perform chores that we are so accustomed to be done for us in Stellenbosch in the form of a maid or a mom.
Personally my preparation was very diligent and it was quite convenient when you see other exchange students scrambling to acquire some essentials on top of the craziness of registering and finding accommodation. Yes, I came on exchange without knowing where I was going to stay. The international office helps a lot with the preparation process through booklets with checklists etc. It is important to book all plane tickets and apply for a visa long before your departure.
A few friends and I planned a tour around Europe before our classes started in Ghent (Belgium). We had a strenuous schedule, but we managed. We flew to Belgium, found a place to stay in three days and flew to Venice where our tour started. We had an amazing experience traveling through Europe. Apart from Venice, we visited Munich, Dresden, Prague, Berlin and Amsterdam. Needless to say we had a great time sightseeing through the day and enjoying (quite) a few beverages at night.
After the tour we settled in Ghent, buying everything we would need in our rooms and for class. The organisation for registration is well organised and good communication from the host institution resulted in us attending most of the orientation sessions. I was extremely fortunate to go with two friends which made making new friends so much easier. I would definitely recommend finding someone that is contemplating on going and collaborating plans so that you go to the same university.
I found that exchange students that engaged in the orientation activities are enjoying it tremendously. Extramural activities are also recommended as you make a lot of friends instead of sitting in your room the whole day. I am playing rugby for the club in Ghent. Touring through Belgium playing rugby is a great prospect to look forward to. We are also constantly making travelling plans. We went to Paris a week ago and have already booked flights to Barcelona at the end of November. Even though the time is flying it has been unbelievable thus far. A few of the South Africans joined a touch rugby team and we’re playing in a tournament tomorrow in Den Haag (Netherlands).
BLOG 2 – 2014-12-03
We have surpassed the halfway mark of our stay in Ghent, Belgium. The days are currently filled with working on end-of-semester projects. The curriculum at Ghent University is very similar to what I have experienced at Stellenbosch University. It has not been a major adjustment and the difficulty level is the same as in Stellenbosch, if not easier.
The spectrum of courses I am taking is quite wide, ranging from project management to advanced corporate finance. The biggest differences in terms of the quality of education between the two universities are the value added aspects in all the courses. The lecturers are extremely qualified. Published textbooks used in the courses have been authored by the lecturers themselves. The guest lecturers, who come on a weekly basis, are executives of the biggest companies in Europe.
The general feeling that one gets from Belgian people is that they keep to themselves. The feeling of just living day-to-day and relaxing is the general atmosphere. This being said, I have met some extraordinary people and have made good friends. There are more than 4000 exchange students and I have therefore been introduced to various cultures when attending student network meet-ups.
The biggest struggle thus far has probably been communication within groups of courses. Some groups have predominantly French speaking students that make it difficult to collaborate on projects. The groups would also sometimes switch over from English to Dutch and even though I can speak Afrikaans I don`t always follow in the conversation.
Overall it`s still amazing and I`m very grateful for the opportunity. A few exchange students and I are going to Barcelona tomorrow which should be nice as it is freezing in Ghent at the moment!
BLOG 3 – 2015-02-25
The last few days in Belgium were bitter-sweet. I knew I would miss the people I met and the places I saw, but I was definitely missing home. Before my departure I made sure all administrative issues were resolved. Luckily most of them were done by the international office at Ghent University. I made sure all my bags were according to specification and that I said the necessary goodbyes.
I have learnt so much and it is difficult to put into words. Without realising it my horizon has drastically been broadened and I find myself joining in conversations about countries I knew nothing about before my departure. The friends I made and the invaluable contacts I made through studying, travelling and playing rugby is something I treasure.
I enjoyed the exchange tremendously, but it I found it very enjoyable to be back in Stellenbosch. After talking to other exchange students that went to different continents I realised that I was very lucky to go to Europe. When considering an exchange I would recommend that one consider the location as a very important factor in a trip, even more than the quality of the host university.
I was lucky to be joined by two other Stellenbosch students and it made the beginning of the exchange very easy and I think I met more people compared to if I went alone. As I stated it is very difficult to put everything I experienced in words, but I would recommend it for everyone.